Apparatus for dispensing predetermined quantities of liquids



L. WILSON Dec. 1 l, 1951 APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING PREDETERMINED QUANTITIES OF LIQUIDS Filed April 19, 1948 Lac/1s W450.

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Patented Dec. 11, 1951 T OFFKIE APPARATUS FOR DISPENSING PREDETER- MINED QUANTITIES OF LIQUIDS Lucas Wilson, Denver, Colo.

Application April 19, 1948, Serial No. 21,996

. 9 Claims. 1

This invention relates to improvements in devices for dispensing predetermined quantities of liquids.

In many places and more, particularly in connection with concrete mixing machinery, it is necessary to add to each batch of concrete a quantity of liquid chemical that has been found to improve it in some particulars. The nature of this chemical will not be described herein as it forms no part of the invention.

It is the object of this invention to produce a device or mechanism that may be attached to an elevated liquid container and so positioned that it will dispense a predetermined quantity of the liquid into the mixing machine at each predetermined quantity of sand and aggregate added thereto.

Another object is to produce a device of the class specified which shall be so constructed that the quantity or" liquid discharged at each operation can be readily adjusted.

A further object is to produce a device having a novel arrangement of valves and operating means therefor that will be positive in its operation and of sufiicient size to permit the measuring chamber to be quickly filled and emptied.

The above and any other objects that may become apparent as this description proceeds are attained by means of a construction and an arrangement of parts that will now be described in detail and reference for this purpose will be had. to the accompanying drawing in which the invention has been illustrated, and in which:

Figure 1 is a diametrical vertical section on line I-I, Figure 6;

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on line 2-2, Figure 1;

. Figure 3 is a section taken on line 3-3, Figure 1;

Figure 4 is a section taken on line 4--4; Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 55, Figure 1; and

Figure 6 is a section taken on line 6-6, Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing, reference numeral IE} designates a cylinder whose top has a transverse bar ll connected therewith. The lower end of the cylinder is threaded as indicated at l2 and has secured thereto a base i3, whose construction forms part of this invention and will be hereinafter described in detail. The transverse bar H has an upwardly extending hub ld throughwhich the tubular piston rod l5 extends. This piston rod has secured to being indicated by a line.

its lower end a circular plate IS and is provided with a scale ll. Positioned inside of rod I5 is another tubular rod i8, having an axial opening it of rather small diameter. The upper end of rod i8 is threaded as indicated at 20, and this threaded portion receives an elongated nut 2i that has diametrically extending handles 22 for use in rotating the same. Nut 2| abuts the upper end of piston rod l5, as shown in the drawing. A plate 23 is connected with the lower end of tubular rod [8. Positioned between plates it; and 23 is a piston 24 formed from readily compressible rubber, either natural or synthetic. The normal diameter of the piston is the same as the internal diameter of cylinder it. By rotating nut 2! so as to move piatcs i5 and 23 towards each other, the resilient piston will be compressed and will be forced outwardly against the inner surface of the cylinder and can thus be quite firmly secured in adjusted position. The upper end of rod 18 has a groove 25 that communicates the central opening it therein with the notch or opening 26 in the lower end of the nut. Air or gas may travel upwardly through the axial opening is and thence downwardly through groove 25 and escape through opening 26. A cage 27 like that shown in Figures 1 and 5 may be secured to the under side of plate 23 and serves to hold a cork disk 28- in position. When the liquid level in chamber 29 rises sufiiciently to float disk 28, the latter will move upwardly against the lower end of tubular member [8 and seal the same so as to prevent liquid from flowing upwardly through the opening therein. The volume of chamber 29 may be adjusted by moving the piston upwardly or downwardly and scale ll may he graduated so as to indicate cubic inches or any other unit.

Bottom member i3 is provided with diametrically positioned openings 30 for the reception of pipes 3i and 32. Pipe 3| will beconsidered as the inlet pipe and this is in communication with a liquid tank 33, the communicating pipe Pipe 32 will be considered as the discharge pipe. Openings 30 communicate with vertical chambers 3i and the latter open into the bottom of chamber 29. The walls of the openings are bevelled so as to form seats for cooperating with the poppet valves 35. Each poppet valve has a stem 33 that projects downwardly as shown. Secured in the downwardly extending openings 31 are threaded nipples 33 through which the valve stems project. An elongated cap 39 is threadedly conliquid to how outwardly through pipe 32. 'liquid 'may fiow freely because air may enter 3 nected with the lower end of each nipple 38 and forms a stuffing box as shown. Abutment plates 4i) are secured to the lower ends of the valve stems and are held in place by removable snap rings ll. Helical compression springs 42 surround each valve stem and extend between the lower surface of bottom member l3 and the abutment plates. Since these springs are always under compression, they normally hold the valves in closed position.

Positioned between the two valve assemblies is a bracket 43 that is secured to the base by means of screws 44. The lower end of the bracket is formed into two spaced fingersbetween which is positioned a rocking arm 45 that oscillates about pivot 4%. There is normally a clearance between the rocking arm and the lower ends of the valve stems, as shown in Figure 1. The rocking arm has a downwardly extending lever 47 to which connecting rod 48 is secured. Connecting rod 48 may be attached to some movable part of the machine so as to rock lever 45 at the proper time in the charging operation. Lever il is provided with a plurality of openings ,9 and connecting rod 48 may be attached to the opening that is most suitable.

Letus now assume that the parts are arranged in the manner shown in the drawing and described herein and that tank 33 contains a quantityof liquid and is positioned at an elevation'somewhat higher than the dispensing de The air that is confrom flowing upwardly.

rocked in a counterclockwise direction, whereupon the valve adjacent the inlet pipe will close and the other valve will open, permitting the The through the opening in tubular member IS.

The above described device has been described in connection with a concrete mixing device and has been designed with special reference to such ause. It is to be understood that this device is suitable for other uses and applicant does "not" desire to be limited to'any particularuse.

'Wh'at is claimed as new is:

l.- In a mechanism for dispensing predetermined quantities of liquid from an elevated tank, having a verticalcylinder, a piston positioned therein-for vertical adjustment having air vent means-therein and means for closing said air vent means, a bottom closing the lower end of -the.icylinder, apiston rod'extending to a point above the. cylinder guided to permit rectilinear Tslidable movement'thereof axially of the cylinder,.and means for clamping the piston in adjusted position; the combination with the above,

of-means for periodically filling the space below the piston with liquid and for dispensing. the same, the bottom having an intake opening and tom, each stem having. a spring abutment, a compression spring surrounding each stem, one

end ofeach spring engaging the lower surface of-the bottom-and the other engaging the abutment, whereby the valves will normally be closed, and means comprising a rocker bar for alternately engaging the ends of the valve stems and opening the valves.

2. In a device for dispensing liquids in predetermined quantities, comprising, in combination, an upright cylinder, a piston mounted in the cylinder for axial adjustment and having an air vent therein, a tubularipiston rod extending to a point above the cylinder guided to permit rectilinear slidable movement thereof axially of the cylinder, means comprising the tubular piston rod for clamping the piston to the wall of the cylinder, the bottom of the cylinder having an inlet and an outlet opening arranged in spacedrelation, an elevated liquid tank, a conduit extending from the tank to the inlet opening, each opening having a poppet valve associated therewith, each valve having a stem extending downwardly through the bottom, resilient 'means comprising a helical spring. surrounding each valve stem to normally hold the valve in closed position, and means comprising a rocker arm positioned to alternately engage the ends of the valve stems to move the valves to open position.

3. A'me'chanism for dispensing liquids in predetermined quantities, comprising an upright cylindrical chamber, a piston mounted in the chamber for axial movement, the piston comprising a resilient member, a plate on each side thereof, a tubular piston rod secured to the upper plate guided to permit rectilinear slidable movement thereof axially of the cylinder, a tension rod having its lower end secured to the under plate, said tension rod projecting through the tubular piston rod, the upper end of the tension rod being threaded,- a nut on the threaded end in engagement with the upper end of the tubular piston rod, whereby, when the nut is turned-to move the'piston plates towards each other, the resilient member will expand and clamp the piston in vertically adjusted position, abottom closing :the lower end of the cylinder, said bottom having an' inlet and an outlet'opening, an elevated liquid tank,'-means for communicating the interior of the tank with the inlet opening, a normally olosedvalve in each opening, an air vent extending through the piston, means for automatically closing the air vent when'the cylinder is 'full of liquid, and means for. alternately opening one valve and closing the othenvwhereby'the chamber below the piston may be alternately filled with liquid and emptied.

4.'An apparatus for dispensing measured quantities of liquids, comprising a verticall positioned cylinderya piston mounted therein for vertical adjustment, means to permit rectilinear sli'dable adjustment thereof axially: of the cylinder, means for clamping the piston in adjusted -position,.a bottom closure for the'cylin'der, said closure having two spaced valve openingsi'provided at their upper ends with valve seats, apoppet valve in each valve opening positioned in the chamber below the piston, valve stemsextending downwardly'to a point below the closure, each valve stem having a spring abutment, a helical compression spring surrounding each valve stem between the closure and the abutment, means for alternately opening and closing the valves comprising a rocker arm positioned below the valve stems and mounted for rocking movement in the plane of the valve stems, the bottom closure having radial ,openingsincommunication with the valve openings, one of which forms an inlet and the other an outlet.

5. Apparatus for dispensing measured quantities of liquid, comprising; a cylinder having a closed lower end disposed with the axis of the cylinder in an upwardly ranging direction, an expansible piston slidably mounted in the cylinder, means for sliding the piston to a desired position of adjustment, the sliding movement of the piston being such that a point thereon may move rectilinearly, means for expanding the piston against the cylinder wall and for releasing it therefrom at a desired position to vary the volume of the cylinder below the piston, air vent means movable with the piston, valve means carried by the piston for automatically closing the air vent means when liquid rises in the cylinder to substantially the level of the lower surface of the piston, and adapted to automatically open when the cylinder is being drained, normally closed inlet and outlet valves disposed at the lower end of the cylinder, and means for selectively opening either of said valves, whereby the cylinder may be filled with liquid or liquid drained therefrom.

6. Apparatus in accordance with claim 5 wherein the means for sliding the piston and for expanding and releasing it includes a member operatively associated with the piston in such manner that limited rotation of the member in one direction releases the piston, rectilinear movement thereafter imparts said sliding movement to the piston, and subsequent rotation thereof in the opposite direction expands the piston.

7. Apparatus for dispensing measured quantitles of liquid, comprising; a cylinder having a closed lower end disposed with the axis of the cylinder in an upwardly ranging direction, an expansible piston slidably mounted in the cylinder, means for sliding the piston to a desired position of adjustment, the sliding movement of the piston being such that a point thereon may move rectilinearly, means for expanding the piston against the cylinder wall and for releasing it therefrom at a desired position to vary the volume of the cylinder below the piston, air vent means adapted to vent air from and to the cylin der below the piston, whereby liquid may rise in the cylinder or be drained therefrom, inlet and outlet conduit means disposed adjacent the lower end of the cylinder, and valve means for selectively communicating said conduit means with the cylinder, whereby the cylinder may be filled With liquid or liquid drained therefrom.

3. Apparatus in accordance with claim 7 in cluding a pair of members movable relatively in the axial direction of the cylinder, one member having abutment means at its lower end engaging the upper face of the expansible piston, and the other member having abutment means at its lower end engaging the lower face of the expansihle piston, and actuating means movable with said members, and movable relative thereto, for actuating the abutment means toward each other to compress the piston and expand it radially outwardly.

9. Apparatus in accordance with claim 8 wherein the first named member is a piston rod rectilinearly slidable in guide means carried by the cylinder, and the second named member is disposed axially within the piston rod.

LUCAS WILSON.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 235,207 Carter Dec. 7, 1880 1,386,083 Young Aug. 2, 1921 1,750,872 Bremer Mar. 18, 1930 1,959,695 Sweetland May 22, 1934 2,218,773 Sparling Oct. 22, 1940 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 12,1973 Great Britain Aug. 5, 1891 

